DIY face masks for blackheads are very easy to make and they are effective at tightening pores, helping you get skin free from blemishes. The best homemade face masks to get rid of blackheads contain ingredients that help remove bacteria, excess sebum, and exfoliate dead skin cells. Blackhead peel off masks also help to unclog pores and give your skin a firmer look and a clearer complexion.

Common places where blackheads appear on your face are around your nose, forehead, cheeks, and chin. These small black spots can give your skin a darker look that may even appear dirty. Blackheads can occur with other signs of acne like whiteheads and pimples. Using homemade face masks for blackhead removal will also help get rid of other types of acne pimples.

In this article, I will look at the best DIY face masks for blackheads removal and for tightening pores. You will also find recipes for easy peel-off blackhead face masks to help give you blemish-free skin. So, if you have ever wondered how to make your own peel off mask for blackheads, you will find plenty of ideas here.

What are Blackheads?

Blackheads appear when pores become clogged with sebum, which is the protective oil the skin produces. The clogged sebum in the pores reacts with oxygen in the air which turns the oil to a dark color – a process called oxidation.

According to MedicineNet, the medical name for clogged pores that turn black is open comedones. Sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria block pores causing them to become larger. The black color is not dirt but clogged sebum and bacteria that has turned black due to oxidation with the air.1

What Causes Blackheads?

Blackheads are a type of acne that can affect youth and adults of any age. Dr. Gary Cole on MedicineNet explains that there are many factors that can cause blackheads to appear. The most common reason is high secretions of sebum that block up pores on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and other areas of the face.2

However, there are other reasons why you may notice blackheads appearing on your face. For example, Dr. Cole says that sun damage can affect the skin’s elasticity causing more blackheads to appear in those areas. Also, medications, hair and skin products, or certain pollutants can cause skin pores to become clogged and blackheads to appear.

The Best Kinds of DIY Face Masks for Blackhead Removal

You can make your own DIY face masks to help extract and prevent blackheads from returning. The best kind of homemade blackhead removal face masks should help to tighten pores, improve the skin’s elasticity, nourish, and moisturize your skin.

Here are some of the best homemade face masks for blackheads and for shrinking pores.

1. Activated Charcoal and Gelatin Blackhead Removal Peel-Off Mask

This DIY blackhead face mask uses activated charcoal to help absorb impurities from your skin and also reduce the number of acne-causing bacteria.

Gelatin is added to this blackhead peel-off mask to help form a solidified mask that is easy to peel off. Studies have also shown that gelatin helps to restore elasticity to the skin and boosts collagen in the skin,4 all of which are essential for healthy-looking skin that is pimple free.

How to make a DIY peel-off face mask with activated charcoal:

Natural ingredients you will need:

1 tbsp. unflavored gelatin powder

2 activated charcoal capsules

Tea tree oil (optional)

Directions:

Put the unflavored gelatin in a small heatproof glass bowl and add 2 tablespoons pure water.

Place the bowl in a larger bowl that is filled with hot water.

Stir the gelatin vigorously until the mixture starts to thicken (make sure that the hot water doesn’t get into the gelatin mixture).

When the mixture starts to thicken, open the 2 charcoal capsules and empty the contents into the DIY face mask mixture.

Add 2 drops of tea tree oil and mix well.

Leave the mixture until it is warm.

Using clean fingers, apply the warm face mask to your nose, cheeks, or forehead where you have blackheads. (Remember to avoid the areas around your eyes or mouth).

2. Egg White DIY Peel-Off Mask for Blackheads

This peel-off face mask contains egg white that helps blackheads disappear fast by drawing out excess sebum from blocked pores and tighten the skin. This is a very simple and cost-effective way to remove blackheads from your cheeks, nose, or forehead.

How to make your own blackhead peel-off mask with egg whites:

Natural ingredients you will need:

One egg

Some tissue paper

Directions:

Separate the egg white from the egg yolk and put the egg white in a small bowl.

Beat the egg white until it is frothy to help the mask stick to your face.

Use a makeup brush to apply the egg white to the areas on your face where you want to remove blackheads.

Put a single layer of tissue paper on your face and “paint” on more of the egg white mixture. Cover with a second layer of tissue paper and top coat with egg white.

Leave the egg white mask to solidify and become hard.

Carefully peel off the face mask to extract the blackheads.

Repeat 2 times a week for best results and keep your skin blackhead-free.

A study published in 2012 found that clay masks with jojoba oil were effective for treating both non-inflammatory acne and inflammatory acne. The clay mask helped to reduce the number of comedones and improve skin appearance.5

Some types of clay you can use for blackhead face masks are bentonite clay, green clay, white clay (kaolin), and Fuller’s earth.

To make a face mask for acne and blackheads, this is what you should do:

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Use 2 tablespoons of your favorite clay and mix with enough water to form a thick paste.

Apply the DIY mask to your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin where blackheads tend to appear.

Leave to dry (should take about 20 minutes).

Rinse your face with cool water to remove the clay and impurities from your skin.

Apply the clay mask once or twice a week to prevent blackheads forming.

5. Homemade Honey Face Mask for Blackheads and Acne

To help eliminate blackheads from your face and prevent them from returning, you can use a homemade mask with honey. Raw, natural honey contains many nourishing nutrients that help to keep your skin looking and feeling great.

According to the Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection, honey has broad-spectrum antibacterial properties that can be beneficial to treat skin conditions like acne. It can help reduce redness in inflamed pimples and help speed up the healing process.7

Honey face mask recipe for blackheads:

Natural ingredients you will need:

1 tbsp. raw honey

1 tbsp. organic plain yogurt

1 egg white

Directions:

Mix the raw honey, yogurt, and egg white in a bowl (adjust the proportions to get a paste that will stick to your face).

Apply to your face.

Leave for 20-30 minutes to kill off acne-causing germs and help improve your complexion.

A study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology found that lemons have both astringent properties and antibacterial activity. Researchers stated that lemon juice can help to keep skin free of infection and help maintain healthy-looking skin.8

Studies into the effects of oatmeal on your skin have found that oatmeal also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help get rid of the signs of acne.9

How to make a DIY lemon juice face mask to shrink pores:

Natural ingredients you will need:

2 egg whites

Juice of ½ lemon

Some ground oatmeal

Directions:

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Whisk the 2 egg whites and add the lemon juice.

Fold in enough ground oatmeal to make a paste.

Apply to your face using circular motions to help gently exfoliate your skin and unclog pores.

Leave on your skin until it dries.

Rinse off with warm water.

For best results when it comes to blackhead removal and prevention, use twice a week.

7. Tea Tree Oil Face Mask

Tea tree oil is a natural remedy for combating blackheads and other symptoms of acne due to its antimicrobial properties. Adding a few drops of tea tree oil to any DIY blackhead mask can help to boost its effectiveness in combating and preventing blackheads and controlling oily skin.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar DIY Blackhead Removal Mask

The natural antiseptic and cleansing properties of raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) make this a great remedy for blackheads and other forms of acne. I’ve already written about the many benefits of ACV for the skin in my article on why you should wash your face with ACV which include reducing age spots, removing excess oil from the skin and unclogging pores.

9. Homemade Cucumber Juice Face Mask

The reason that cucumber juice is great for removing blackheads naturally is that it also acts as an astringent to shrink pores. Research has also shown that cucumber extracts help to reduce the amount of sebum the skin produces. This means that there is less chance that blackheads will form. In fact, researchers have found that cucumber extracts have an anti-acne effect.11

How to make a simple DIY face mask for blackheads:

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Extract the juice from one fresh cucumber.

Use a cotton ball to apply the fresh cucumber juice to your skin to cleanse it and remove bacteria.

Leave for 15 minutes to help rejuvenate your skin before rinsing off with cold water.

Repeat every 2 or 3 days to help keep your facial skin free from blackheads.

10. Yogurt and Turmeric Face Mask

Make a blackhead-busting DIY face mask using a combination of turmeric and yogurt. Turmeric has many properties that make it beneficial for skin care. For example, its anti-inflammatory properties help to even out skin tone naturally.

A review of the effects of turmeric on skin health found that it can help address a number of skin issues. The journal Phytotherapy Research reported that a topical application of turmeric (curcumin) can naturally treat acne outbreaks, dermatitis, psoriasis, and reduce skin itching.12

How to make a DIY face mask to eliminate blackheads:

Natural ingredients you will need:

1 tsp. turmeric

1 tsp. natural yogurt

1 tsp. raw honey

Directions:

Mix the turmeric, honey, and yogurt in a bowl until you get a thick paste (adjust the ingredients as necessary).

This homemade face mask includes avocado oil for its skin-nourishing properties.

Natural ingredients you will need:

1 tsp. witch hazel

2-3 drops tea tree oil

1 tsp. raw honey

1 tsp. avocado oil

Directions:

Thoroughly mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

Apply the mask to your forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks.

Leave for 15 minutes to nourish your skin and destroy any bacteria and germs on your skin.

Rinse off with warm water and pat your skin dry.

12. Homemade Sugar Scrub

This DIY face mask for eliminating blackheads incorporates many effective ingredients that will rejuvenate your skin. The ingredients in this mask help to even out skin tone, unclog sebum from pores, and tightens pores.

The sugar scrub is a natural exfoliator to remove dead skin and unblock pores naturally. The grainy texture of sugar helps to remove excess sebum and loosen dirt that can lead to acne. The natural scrub for acne also uses tea tree oil for its antimicrobial properties and lemon juice to help peel off dead skin cells.

How to make your homemade blackhead face mask:

Natural ingredients you will need:

1/4 cup of brown sugar

Juice from 1/2 a lemon

1 tbsp. raw honey

2-3 drops tea tree oil

Directions:

Thoroughly mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Adjust the quantities so that the scrub is thick.

Gently massage onto your face for 2-3 minutes.

Leave on your face for 10-15 minutes to help boost the health of your facial skin.

Rinse off with warm water.

Use 2 times a week to say goodbye to blackheads for good.

Skin Gritting for Blackheads Removal – What is it?

Skin gritting is another way for blackhead removal that gained a recent popularity. It is a three step process that combines oil cleansing with a clay mask to remove grits – blackheads, excess dirt, oil, and dead cells that accumulate around the pores.

Oil cleansing – what is it?

Oil cleansing uses a specific combinations of natural oils to clean and balance your skin. It is usually used for your face and can be combined with gentle steaming.

Advocates of the oil cleansing say that as strange as it might sound, when you apply natural oils to your skin, the skin actually becomes less oily. Unlike commercial soaps and facial cleaners, natural oils don’t destroy the skin’s innate protection mechanisms, but promote self-healing and cleaning. When applying many commercial skin care products, they aggressively strip the oil (sebum) out of your skin. In turn, your skin tries to over-compensate for the loss and produces even more oil, making your skin look greasy. As a result, you use even more of the drying products, creating a vicious cycle.

People who use the oil cleansing method follow one of chemistry’s basic principles: like dissolves like and oil dissolves oil. If you use the right oils, you will help remove the dirty oils and cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria.

In my article on how to rejuvenate your skin using oil cleansing you can find detailed instructions including a video on how to do this technique at home. This information will help you to perform the skin gritting method for blackheads removal.

Skin gritting to extract blackheads

Gritting blackheads involves massaging the skin with oil which gently removes dirt, then applying a clay mask to further draw out all the dirt from within the pores to the skin surface, and then massaging the skin a second time with oil to remove dead skin cells and for a greater cleanse of the pores.

The important thing is to remember not to overly scrub your skin, which can be too aggressive for your skin, causing more harm than good.

You can try the blackheads gritting methods once or twice a week to see if it works for you in your battle against blackheads.

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